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MCLEAN, VA - SEPTEMBER 25: Virginia gubernatorial candidates Terry McAuliffe ( D ) and Ken Cuccinelli ( R ) make small talk prior to their debate in McLean, VA on September 25, 2013. The focus of the debate centered on the economy and other critical issues facing Virginia. (Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post)

With less than a month left until Virginians elect a new governor, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows Democrat Terry McAuliffe is ahead of Republican Ken Cuccinelli.

The poll showed McAuliffe with a wide margin among female voters, who favored him to Cuccinelli 54 percent to 34 percent, with 7 percent for Sarvis.

Respondents were also asked their opinions on the government shutdown. By nearly a 3-to-1 ratio, they opposed shutting down the federal government to block the federal health care law. Yet 58 percent said they were not personally inconvenienced by the shutdown.

New Poll Gives Terry McAuliffe Lead

Northern Virginia reporter David Culver reports on new poll numbers in the race for Virginia governor, and the links between Terry McAuliffe and a scheme that preyed on terminally ill patients.